Buing a mattress is worse than buying a car!

[hercamore]

I am totally frustrated with looking for a queen size mid price range coil spring matress. You can't compare labels between stores! Coil count, padding thicketness, edging wire, ladeda!

I was all set to purchase a Simmon's Beautyrest, but now I've been reading reviews that state they don't last more than a couple years, before wear starts to show.

King Koil is endorsed by Good Housekeeping and Natl Chiro Assoc, but I can't find any reviews on KK.

How do you buy a mattress?


herc.

 

[hercamore]

Oops, moderator please move to the CB!

herc.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by hercamore
How do you buy a mattress?

It is definitely worse than buying a car. No matter what car dealer you go to, they sell the same cars. But mattresses are customized for each chain - different model names, different fabrics, etc. You can't easily compare items at different stores.

So take an afternoon, go to a few local mattress stores. Check the brand, coil count and special features and lie on them and see what you think.

And just like buying cars, don't forget that mattress prices are NEGOTIABLE. Many people don't realize this. The last time we bought a mattress we found one we liked and told the salesman that we liked it but it was more than we wanted to spend. He asked how much we were looking to spend. I told him an amount about $200 less than the mattress we were looking at. He sold us that mattress for the lower price, so simply by asking we saved $200!

 

[hercamore]

Ok, I'll try for a lower price when I do decide! I'll give him my "two kids in college" spiel, LOL.



herc

 

[WDWisTheBest]

This is interesting. We just came to the same conclusion after looking at a queen size mattress at Sam's Club. It is a Serta but after looking at mattresses at three other stores, we concluded that only someone with a PH.d. in mattresses can make heads or tails out of this.
Consumers Digest doesn't help either.

 

[arminnie]

I desperately need a new mattress but cannot force myself to go buy one - besides I think I spent the money on a DVC add on anyway.

I spent a LOT of money on a top of the line Simmons Beauty rest. A friend used to work in the furniture business and she told me they were the best. The problem is that was 20 years ago and something happened along the way.

The Beauty Rest that I have is a pillow top and sags something awful. They even came out and replaced the box springs once - they were totally broken with pieces moving around - the bed was about 18 months old and I had been out of town about half of that time. It was probably broken when it was delivered.

I think it's important that it is comfortable in the store but how do you know that it won't be a saggy mess in a few months? that's what happened to me.

I bought a King Koil mattress about 30 years ago and my sister still has it - moved it to her guest room a couple of years ago. It held up great.

 

[hercamore]

WDWisTheBest, I search Consumer Digest for reviews and nothing!

I hear you, arminnie! I am really afraid I'll buy a matress and then, woosh, LOL.

I am going to test drive the King Koil again.

herc.

 

[punkin]

I need to replace my queen size and my daughter's twin. After going to the store, I'm in sticker shock. $500 for a twin set and over $1000 for the queen. I don't think so!

 

[hercamore]

punkin, I was told best prices for mattress sets are in Sept. However, I need one now.



herc.

 

[grinningghost]

My parents and DD both have King Koils and they are AWESOME!

I only wish I had one.

 

[monkeyboy]

Buing a mattress is worse than buying a car!

Which gets better mileage?

 

[LuvN~Travel]

I second the bargain hunting post above. When we went looking, we were looking at a Stern's and Foster. The best ones were listed for about $1300.00. However, the man who owns the store we were in, told us about one he'd had returned. When it was delivered it was scuffed up a bit on the ends (kinda like scuff marks on white shoes).
He sold it to us for $595.00! And, it sleeps like a dream, too. Definitely ask about bargains, returns, etc.
Have fun hunting.
Kim

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
Which gets better mileage?

I guess that depends on who the buyer is.

 

[Luv2Travel]

hercamore - I feel your pain, we're getting ready to buy new bedding - what a headache!

arminnie - great picture!

 

[Jodi1980]

Sears is selling a king-size mattress for $2400!

 

[DBC]

If anyone does end up going with the Simmons Beautyrest line make sure to check out the prices at walmart.com (woulda thunked they carry them?).

They are much cheaper than buying them through a dealer. Delivery is $50, but they do take out the old mattress for that price.

 

[Hillbeans]

We just bought my DS 3 his first bed...the mattress/box spring cost close to $700

What's funny also is that the "lower" priced beds in the stores are like ones you'd find at a shore house...they creak, the coils are popping up, oldetc...they really make you feel like you'd be an idiot to buy THAT mattress which costs only $400.

 

[Lorix2]

We purchased a Serta king pillow top after sleeping in a horrid water bed for 13 years. We've had it for 2 years now and we absolutely love it.

We paid $1200 for the mattress and box springs , little did I know then that you could haggle with a mattress store employee.

It was worth every penny to me anyway.

We're in the market for new mattress for my DD now and I'm ready

 

[NMAmy]

Keep the reviews coming! I'm in the market for new mattresses as well but I've been putting off the stress of actually going out to buy one!

 

[treesinger]

Mattresses 101

I work at Levitz Furniture (a large chain) and this is how we are trained.

1. Coil counts don't really matter. They are a tiebbreaker if you can't decide between one matt and another. More coils doesn't always mean BETTER coils. A Stearns and Foster, the best you can buym, has LESS coils than a mid to upper range Serta. But Stearns is usually a better bed.

2. The most important thing is COMFORT. No one ever goes to bed saying they're glad they have 800 coils or I'm glad I bought brand x. You go to bed glad that you love your mattress. The only way to get the best one is to tell the salesperson what kind of feel yyou like (soft, firm, marshmallow, etc.) and any salesperson worth his salt can narrow it down to three. Then lay on them...and TAKE YOUR TIME!

3. mAKE SURE YOU TEST IT THE WAY YOU SLEEP. iF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR SIDE, test it on your side.

4. If the $600 set is more comfortable than the $1200 set, you want the $600 set.

5. Matt companies typically give a 10 yr non-prorated warranty. But if you get ANY stains, rips tear etc, on it, your warranty is void. Even if a defect has nothing to do with it. It sucks, but getting the warranty against this damage (usually around $60), is worthwhile if your rough on your beds like that.

6. Different companies do different pricing. Levitz is very agressive at keeping lower prices then their competitors and WILL NOT NEGOTIATE the price. Places that sell bedding only will negotiate because they tend to "pump and dump" the price to make the bargain look larger.

7. One sided mattresses are generally NOT good. The ones from Sealy are pretty good, IMO/ Simmons and Serta, not so. Also with one sided, you can't flip it. So if you spill your drink at 9:00 pm, you can flip it over to avoid the wet spot.

8. I don't like Simmons myself. They tend to wear faster. Since they have individual coils, they don't pull support from surrounding coils to support you. Other coil mattresses pull support from the whole sleeping area, not just the coils you body presses on. Most coil matts run head to toe, meaning that this helps keep any motion from travelling very far side to side. You really don't get that much more motion from a regular coil unit compared to Simmons.

9. My recommendations? Stearns has the hardest coil unit. Serta and Sealy are a close second. Hard foam edges are a must if you find yourself sleeping on the edge a lot. Other brands that are ok are Bassett and Restonic. I've sold Simmons and Spring Air. On the whole, they weren't as good in quality as the others.